Bengaluru FC set for Maldivian Challenge in AFC Cup
Bengaluru FC have never played in the AFC Cup before, but they have a good mix of experienced Indian players, an energetic young coach and good foreign recruits.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 23, 2015 08:37 PM IST
![Bengaluru FC set for Maldivian Challenge in AFC Cup](https://s.ndtvimg.com/images/content/2015/jan/806/sunil-chhetri-bengaluru-fc.jpg)
Bengaluru FC, at full-strength after a spate of injuries, kick-start their Group E campaign with a game against Maldivian side Maziya Sports and Recreation Club at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here Tuesday under floodlights.
Hit hard with injuries that forced key players out of the last two I-League games, coach Ashley Westwood had better news ahead of Tuesday's clash.
"The boys who didn't travel to Mohun Bagan (Lalchhuanmawia, Rino Anto and Sean Rooney) have come through a really good session yesterday, so they are all fully fit and available for selection.
"We are more or less at full strength with regard to the injury department which is encouraging. We have not only got this game to look forward to, but also got three fairly quick I-League games as well that comes upon us," said Westwood, here Monday.
The coach said though the start to the season may have been slow, the performances were encouraging and that his boys were keen on getting the tournament off to a good start.
"We're looking forward to this match; our first game in the AFC Cup.A The preparations have been going quite well and we're looking forward to putting out a really positive performance," he said.
The Maziya team that arrived in the city Saturday evening has played in the AFC Cup in 2013 where they failed to make it out of the group stages.
On the other hand, I-League and Federation Cup champions Bengaluru FC's sole tryst with continental football was a brave show in the 1-2 defeat to Johor Darul Ta'zim in the AFC Champions League play-off game, in Johor, earlier this month.
However, Westwood admitted Bengaluru FC didn't know much about their opponents spare the fact that they will be coming at the Blues with everything.
"We don't know too much about them, to be honest. We know they have got three international players; a Spanish centre-forward, a Bulgarian centre-half, and a Japanese midfielder.
"They also have a few Maldivian internationals, so they are going to be a strong side. They are probably one of the strongest in Maldives and are going to come and give us a good game.
"It's a different game, it's a cup competition and the best team is going to come out and win," said the Englishman.
Maziya coach Ali Suzain said though his team has been around for longer than Bengaluru, experience wouldn't count for anything when the teams take the pitch.
"We are very happy to have qualified and to have an opportunity to play against one of the strongest sides from India and a well-organised side.
"As a recently formed side, Bengaluru FC have never played in the AFC Cup before, but they have good players with bundles of experience, an energetic young coach and good foreign players. I don't think experience counts for anything in tomorrow's game," he said.